The New England Patriots enter the 2026 offseason having experienced the worst possible season, losing the Super Bowl. Thankfully, it wasn't on a last-second field goal or even a close game. They were crushed by the Seahawks, 29-13, in a game that wasn't close.
Now, Vrabel and his MVP-level quarterback, Drake Maye, can lick their wounds, and Vrabel can go to work on the offseason and his second year of a rebuild.
Vrabel saw his offensive line give up six sacks in the Super Bowl and a whopping 21 in the postseason. That's not going to get the job done. His 80 percent turnover last season was an improvement, but it's arguable just how much. Clean pockets were scarce for Maye, and he has the bumps and bruises to prove it, including a dinged-up shoulder.
The offensive line needs better pass-blocking additions, and on the other side of the sack equation, delivering sacks, the edge is also a position of top need. Vrabel has Harold Landry III, who's had injuries, and K'Lavon Chaisson, who's a free agent. If Chaisson leaves, the situation is even more tenuous, but even if he's re-signed, Vrabel needs to fortify the edge with at least two pass-rushers.
So let's go with a five-round top of the draft mock draft and see if Vrabel can dial up the additions he needs to get back to the Super Bowl - and win it.
Post-Super Bowl LX mock draft that puts the Patriots on track for another deep postseason run
First Round Pick, No. 31, Offensive Tackle, Monroe Freeling, Georgia
The Patriots and Mike Vrabel know that their offensive line needs a major infusion of talent this offseason. He wastes no time in dropping his first-round pick for the second time in two years on a big left tackle.
This time it's 6'7", 315-pound Monroe Freeling of the Georgia Bulldogs. Freeling is a left tackle, and he'll vie for an immediate starting spot at either tackle position or, at worst, be the No. 1 swing tackle.
NFL.com gives this Overview of Freeling.
"Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle. With only 16 career starts, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish.
Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter."
Bleacher Report cites the big Bulldog tackle's strengths,
"— Broad, thick and well-rounded build with good length.
— Solid initial quickness puts him on the correct track to line up and cover up targets in the run game.
— Good natural power to uproot and widen defenders off of their spot.
— Functional anchor with the mass and length to stymie the bull-rush and die slowly against high-side rushes."
Second Round Pick, No. 63, tight end Oscar Delp, Georgia
With the Patriots' second-round pick, Vrabel addresses another sneaky need, the tight end position. and selects another Georgia Bulldog, tight end Oscar Delp. The 6'5", 245-pound Delp caught just 20 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in 2025, but it's his unique speed that is his greatest asset.
With Henter Henry entering his age 31 season and Austin Hooper a free agent, Vrabel moves quickly to bolster a need position.
NFL Draft Buzz cites his strengths and a weakness.
"Delp's elite speed at 245 pounds opens up offensive possibilities that few players at his position can provide, yet the modest college production raises legitimate questions about his readiness to contribute immediately...His blocking presents the most compelling contradiction - the effort and competitive spirit are undeniable, but the lack of functional strength and refined technique make him a liability against NFL-caliber edge rushers early in his career.
His athletic ceiling remains tantalizing for offensive coordinators willing to invest in his growth, particularly in systems that move tight ends around to exploit favorable matchups."
Round 3, Pick No. 95, Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
The Patriots' top two needs this offseason deal with sacks: both prevention and production. They need help at both. With their third round pick, Vrabel goes edge and drafts Illinois' edge rusher, Gabe Jacas, from the 2025 college champion Hoosiers.
With K'Lavon Chaisson a free agent, Vrabel moves early to add production to his sack attack.
The Draft Network cites Jacas's top sack production over the past two seasons.
"Over the past two seasons, Jacas has produced 19 sacks and six forced fumbles, highlighting his natural feel for getting to the quarterback. He consistently wins with a quick first step and the ability to accelerate around the corner, using speed to stress offensive tackles. Jacas shows an effective ghost move to slip under an offensive tackle’s pads, as well as a dip-and-rip to turn the corner.
When facing more athletic tackles who beat him to the spot, he demonstrates the fluidity and awareness to redirect across the tackle’s face and attack the inside counter lane to the quarterback."
Round 4, Pick No. 125, (from Chicago in a 2025 draft day trade), Jaeden Roberts, Offensive Guard, Alabama
The urgency to draft offensive linemen continues as Vrabel drafts a guard to compete immediately for playing time. He selects Alabama's big guard, 6'5", 327-pound Jaeden Roberts. Roberts' size and pedigree will push him right into the competition at left guard if Jared Wilson is moved to center.
Or, he can fit as a top backup to Wilson and Mike Onwenu, if he's not released or traded this offseason.
Bleacher Report cites the big Crimson Tide guard's size and strength as two key assets.
"— Rare physical build and weight-room strength.
— Long arms with flashes of heavy hands that jar defenders in their tracks.
— Casts a wide net to widen basic pass-rush moves off of his frame.
— Has the upper-body strength to overtake double-teams and seal off lanes."
Round 4, Pick No. 131, Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
With their own fourth-round pick, the Patriots further shore up their pass rush and draft UCF's edge, Malachi Lawrence, a 6'4", 250-pounder who has 35" arms. Lawrence notched seven sacks in 2025 along with 11 tackles for loss, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
NFL Draft Buzz talks about Lawrence's pass-rushing and great size and length.
"Lawrence brings the kind of size, length, and athletic profile that defensive coordinators want to work with on the edge. His 35-inch arms give him natural advantages in hand fighting, and when you combine that wingspan with legitimate get-off quickness and bend, you've got raw materials worth developing. The pass rush toolbox is diverse enough to suggest he won't be limited to one move at the pro level, and his pressure rate against Big 12 competition proves he knows how to get home when given opportunities.
Teams looking for a designated pass rusher who can reduce inside on third down will find value in his versatility, and his motor ensures he won't take plays off when the opportunity for impact presents itself."
Round 5, Pick No. 169, Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio State
Since sacks are the name of the game on both sides of the ball, this offseason for the New England Patriots, Vrabel selects his third edge of the draft in the fifth round and takes Ohio State's 6'3", 260-pound, Caden Curry. He had a great season for the Buckeyes, garnering 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.
Bleacher Reports looks at the big edge's strengths,
"- Curry has solid burst off the line of scrimmage to threaten offensive tackles with speed around the edge.
- Decent rip move and good bend to corner at the top of the rush.
- Recognizes when he reaches the top of the quarterback's drop back and flashes a decent spin-move to win inside, thus avoiding getting run past the quarterback.
- Good agility to take efficient paths as the looper in line games.
- As a run defender, he has good block recognition to place himself in a position to take on blocks. Also is quick to sniff out screens."
That's a five-round top-of-the-draft look at how the Patriots can address some of their most acute needs. They take a big left tackle in the first round for the second year in a row, then grab a young tight end, and continue by adding a big guard and three edge players who can contribute to the pass rush.
Vrabel again drafts strictly on need and adds multiple players to his top priority positions. It makes perfect sense, and it delivers a Grade A draft for the second year in a row for Vrabel.